Education Savings Accounts, also known as ESAs, are state programs that allow families to access public education funding and use it beyond the traditional public school system. Instead of funding going straight to a school district, ESA funds are set aside in a secure account that families can use for approved education expenses like private school tuition, homeschooling resources, tutoring, special education services, and more.
As of 2025, 18 states have ESA programs in place, and no two are exactly alike. They have different names, rules, and eligibility requirements depending on the state. That’s why it’s important to check your state’s official resources for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
What scholarship options are available in Arkansas?
Arkansas families currently have access to two main programs that support flexible education funding. These options can help cover tuition, curriculum, and other approved services.
Here are the key scholarship programs available:
- Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program: The state’s ESA program offers public funds that families can use for approved education expenses.
- Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) Scholarship Program: A privately funded scholarship that helps income-eligible families pay for tuition at approved private schools in Arkansas.
Each program has different eligibility requirements and funding rules. In the following sections, we’ll break down how they work so you can choose what fits your learner best.
Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program
The Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program (also called the Education Freedom Account or EFA) is the state’s official Education Savings Account. It gives families access to public funds that can be used to pay for approved educational expenses outside the traditional public school system. This includes tuition, curriculum, tutoring, educational therapies, and more.
The program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Education and managed through the ClassWallet platform. Funds are distributed quarterly, and families can apply to use the EFA while educating their child through private school, homeschool, or a combination of qualified learning methods.
Eligibility
- Residency: Student must be a legal resident of Arkansas.
- Grade Level: Open to K-12 students eligible to enroll in public school.
- Enrollment Status: Students must not be enrolled full-time in an Arkansas public school while using EFA funds.
- Income: No income restrictions.
- Priority Groups: The EFA program began phasing in during the 2023–24 school year. As of 2025, it’s now fully available to all K-12 students in Arkansas, regardless of prior school setting or income level. However, if demand exceeds available funding, applications are reviewed in this order:
- Returning EFA students
- Students with disabilities, in foster care, or experiencing homelessness
- Students assigned to D- or F-rated public schools
- Children of military families or first responders
- First-time kindergarteners
- All other applicants
Rules & regulations
- Application Process: Applications are reviewed in three-week priority windows from March through January each year. Families apply through the state’s online portal and must submit required documents, including proof of residency and the student’s birth certificate.
- Award Amount:
- Most students will receive approximately $6,856 for the 2025-26 school year
- There is no hard cap on participation, but the per-student amount may be adjusted if total demand exceeds available state funding
- Use of Funds: Families can use funds for:
- Private school tuition and fees
- Uniforms
- Homeschool curriculum and materials
- Tutoring and specialized therapies
- Testing fees and educational technology
- Transportation and enrichment (limited portion)
- Testing Requirements: All students using EFA funds must take a nationally norm-referenced test in reading and math each year.
- Continuation: Families must reapply annually to continue receiving funds and remain in good standing with program guidelines.
- Restrictions: EFA funds can only be spent on approved educational expenses. Enrolling full-time in public school or misusing funds can result in removal from the program.
Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) Scholarship Program
The Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) Scholarship provides tuition support for eligible students to attend approved private schools in Arkansas. This program is funded through private donations and awarded by state-approved Scholarship-Granting Organizations (SGOs), which manage applications and distribute funds to qualifying families.
Designed to make private education more accessible, the PIAK Scholarship helps families cover tuition costs when public school isn’t the right fit. Award amounts vary based on the student’s grade level and are capped at a percentage of the state’s foundation funding amount.
Eligibility
- Residency: Student must be an Arkansas resident.
- Income: Household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (approximately $62,400 for a family of four).
- Enrollment History: Student must have attended a public school in the most recent school year unless:
- The student is entering kindergarten,
- Has a qualifying disability, or
- Recently moved to Arkansas.
- Note: Applicants must submit documentation to verify both income and enrollment status or their qualifying exemption.
Rules & regulations
- Application Process: Families may apply online. Required documents include the prior year’s tax return and any relevant supplemental income forms. Families must also provide verification for one qualifying condition, such as a public school record, a disability diagnosis, or proof of a recent move into Arkansas.
- Award Amounts:
- Up to 80% of the state foundation amount for students in grades K-8 (about $6,200)
- Up to 90% for high school students (about $6,900 for 2025-26)
- Use of Funds: Scholarship funds must be used for tuition at a participating private school.
- Testing Requirements: Participating private schools must annually administer a nationally norm-referenced test to students in grades 3-10 receiving PIAK funds. Students with significant cognitive disabilities may qualify for an alternate assessment or portfolio review approved by the State Board of Education.
- Continuation: Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. Families must reapply each year and continue to meet income and documentation requirements.
- Restrictions: Only state-approved private schools that meet specific health, safety, and academic accountability standards may accept PIAK scholarships.
How to use your Arkansas EFA funds on Outschool
Outschool is an approved provider for Arkansas families using Education Freedom Accounts. If you’ve received an EFA, you can use your ClassWallet account to enroll in eligible Outschool classes, tutoring, and learning tools that align with the state’s approved expenses.
Outschool makes it easy to build a flexible learning plan that fits your child’s needs. With thousands of courses to choose from, you can use your EFA funds to support core subjects, explore new interests, or fill in academic gaps.
Families may use EFA funds on:
- Live, small-group classes led by qualified teachers
- Self-paced courses that accommodate different learning styles
- Core subject instruction and enrichment topics
- Supplemental learning for homeschool, private school, or hybrid models
- Any class or learning service that qualifies under Arkansas’s EFA-approved expenses
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to the most common questions families ask, whether you're applying for the first time or figuring out how to use your funds effectively.
How do I apply for the Arkansas Education Freedom Account?
Applications are submitted through the Arkansas Department of Education’s online portal. You’ll need to upload proof of residency and your child’s birth certificate. Applications are reviewed in three-week windows and can be submitted from March through January each year.
What is the award amount for Arkansas EFA recipients?
Most students will receive approximately $6,856 for the 2025–26 school year. This amount is distributed quarterly and may be adjusted if demand exceeds available state funding.
What can I spend Arkansas EFA funds on?
Approved expenses include private school tuition, homeschool curriculum and materials, tutoring, therapies, testing fees, and up to 25% of the funds for transportation or enrichment activities. All purchases must align with the Arkansas Department of Education guidelines.
Is there a limit to how many students can receive EFA funds?
There is no cap on the number of students who can participate. However, if the number of eligible applicants exceeds available funding, the award amount per student may be reduced.
Can I use Arkansas EFA funds and still send my child to public school?
No. Students cannot be enrolled full-time in a public school while receiving EFA funds.
Who qualifies for the PIAK Scholarship?
Students must live in Arkansas and have a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. They must have attended public school in the prior year, unless they are entering kindergarten, have a qualifying disability, or recently moved into the state.
How much funding does the PIAK Scholarship provide?
Award amounts vary by grade. Scholarships can cover up to 80% of the state’s foundation funding for grades K-8 and up to 90% for high school students. For 2025–26, this is estimated at around $6,200 and $6,900, respectively.
Utilizing educational choices for a better fit
Arkansas families now have more control over how their children learn, with support systems in place to help make those choices more accessible. The Education Freedom Account and PIAK Scholarship programs open doors to learning environments that can better match a student’s strengths and needs, backed by both public and private funding options.
If you're using an EFA to build a more customized learning plan, you can use your funds on eligible learning options through platforms like Outschool. With live classes, self-paced courses, and core subject support, it’s a flexible way to keep your child engaged and on track from anywhere.
More resources for Arkansas homeschoolers
To learn more about homeschooling in the state, see our guide to homeschooling in Arkansas.
.svg)
.svg)
